# How to do this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [August 13, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-do-this/145762 "2008-08-13T19:40:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Casimir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@Casimir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Casimir)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-do-this/145762/1 "2008-08-13T19:40:35Z")
Dear sirs, I am planning a simple geometry generation library. XYZ points, primitive geometry such as triangles and guides that can generate more geometry. I feel somehow retarted, as usual, so I hope to hear some wise words of advice. So, suppose I would want to use the following syntax to command the little XYZ -points into geometric arrangements of beauty and elegance, especially the ‘along’ -bit, where starcircle is defined: #generates a star by combining two triangles astar = Guide.polygon((Symbol.triangle(99) + Symbol.triangle(99).rotate (180)) #generates a circle with stars replacing the points on the circumference n\_int = 20 radius\_int = 500 starcircle = Symbol.with\_polygon(astar.polygon).along(Symbol.circle (n\_int, radius\_int))) Pic = starcircle.render(“svg”) #etc … 1. How would one manage the generation of starcircle? Store the star (“astar”) passed as argument in with\_polygon in a Guide-instance and refer to it once “along”-method is called. Am I doing this wrong? Is this just artistic nonsens? Should it read, in a boring CS major style: starcircle = Symbol.generate\_with\_guide(astar, Symbol.circle) 1. How to achieve the ‘+’ operation for symbols? For example symbol4 + somesymbol would join the geometry of the latter into the former. Or perhaps return a new symbol with combined geometry. How is that handled for adding number-objects? I am hoping to achieve as flexible and robust syntax as possible, suited for adventurous artist types who might try things your average engineer would think were “wrong”. ---
**Author:** ![Casimir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@Casimir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Casimir)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-do-this/145762/2 "2008-08-13T20:25:43Z")
> 1. How to achieve the ‘+’ operation for symbols? For example symbol4 + > somesymbol would join the geometry of the latter into the former. Or > perhaps return a new symbol with combined geometry. How is that handled > for adding number-objects? This doesn’t completely answer your question, but you can define a + (value) method on any class. You can write any logic you want in it. E.g. class TestPlus def initialize(value=0) @value = value end def +(value) # replace this with any logic you want. +value+ can be any sort of object, not just a number @value += value puts @value end end x = TestPlus.new(0) x + 2 =\> 2 ---
**Author:** ![Casimir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@Casimir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Casimir)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-do-this/145762/3 "2008-08-13T20:38:01Z")
On 8/13/08, Casimir [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Dear sirs, > > I am planning a simple geometry generation library. XYZ points, primitive > geometry such as triangles and guides that can generate more geometry. I’ll offer my opinions in reverse order: > 1. How to achieve the ‘+’ operation for symbols? For example symbol4 + > somesymbol would join the geometry of the latter into the former. Or > perhaps return a new symbol with combined geometry. How is that handled > for adding number-objects? Most (maybe even all) built-in + operators return a new object, so I’d do the same for your Symbols. Assuming a Symbol is just a collection of primitives (lines and points), then it should probably be something like: class Symbol def initialize prims=[] @primitives = prims end def + other Symbol.new(@primitives +other.primitives ) end end > So, suppose I would want to use the following syntax … > > starcircle = Symbol.with\_polygon(astar.polygon).along(Symbol.circle > (n\_int, radius\_int))) > > 1. How would one manage the generation of starcircle? Store the star > (“astar”) passed as argument in with\_polygon in a Guide-instance and > refer to it once “along”-method is called. That could work, but is awkward. What happens if you call #along without #with first? What if you call #with twice? > Am I doing this wrong? Is this just artistic nonsens? Should it read, in > a boring CS major style: > starcircle = Symbol.generate\_with\_guide(astar, Symbol.circle) How about a more ruby style: tri =Symbol.triangle(side) astar = tri + tri.rotate(180) circle = Symbol.circle(pts,radius) starcircle = circle.map\_points{|point| astar.at(point).primitives } where Symbol#at creates a new instance of itself centered on point, and Symbol#map\_points creates a new symbol based on the block results: def map\_points &block new\_primitives = [] @points.each{|pt| new\_primitives\<\< block.call(pt)} Symbol.new(newpoints) end -Adam ---
**Author:** ![Casimir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@Casimir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Casimir)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-do-this/145762/4 "2008-08-14T15:45:56Z")
Adam S. kirjoitti: > On 8/13/08, Casimir [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > > Dear sirs, > > > > I am planning a simple geometry generation library. XYZ points, primitive > > geometry such as triangles and guides that can generate more geometry. > > I’ll offer my opinions in reverse order: Thank you Daniel C. and Adam S… I will now build the simple geometry classes and return here on this topic with some code once I have implemented the Symbol and Guide classes. Casimir P.